As Ash lies asleep in the infirmary, the rest of the team decides to visit him. Nobu, feeling grateful for once not to be the one receiving treatment, excitedly exclaims, "It's such a nice change of pace to be visiting instead of being visited! I've never been in the infirmary without needing treatment before. Not bad, huh?"
"That was a bit negatively optimistic," Katsu interrupts Nobu's optimism with a dose of reality, "Let's not sugarcoat it. And you still need to be healed. Your injuries are even worse than Ash's."
Nobu sighs in agreement, reluctantly admitting, "Yeah, you're right. Hey, Yagami, are you still useful? Can you heal me too?"
Yagami is taken aback by Nobu's request, feeling a bit insulted. "That was kind of hard to hear, to be honest," he says, awkwardly chuckling.
"That was rude!" Sayuri, never one to miss an opportunity for mischief, jumps onto Nobu's back, causing him to cry out in pain, "Nono, you need to apologize, right now!"
"Ow ow ow! What are you doing?" he yelps, as Sayuri starts pulling his hair, "Alright! Alright! I'm sorry, stop pulling my hair already!" And she stops pulling his hair, looking pleased with herself as she raises her thumb to Yagami.
"You guys are unique," Yagami, amused by the group's antics, can't help but comment, "but that's what makes our team special."
Nobu turns to Reina with a wide grin on his face, his eyes sparkling orange with the excitement of his recent victory. "So, what do you think, Reina? I was pretty cool, right? Right?"
Reina nods a hint of pride in his eyes. "You even used 'All For One' without collapsing." He explains, "That was a great beginning, Nobu."
Katsu chimes in, glancing over at the sleeping Ash with a grin. "And your opponent wasn't weak at all! You did great, both of you!"
"Especially when he went berserk." Nods Nobu in agreement, still buzzing with the adrenaline of the fight, "It felt like Ash was almost trying to kill me!"
Katsu corrects him with an awkward chuckle. "Actually... He wanted to kill you," he says, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Oh, I see..." Nobu slumps down in the corner of the room, wincing uncontrollably. "He wanted to kill me, huh?" he cries, his chin resting on his knees. "Guys, why do you hate me that much?"
Satomi interjects, her voice calm but firm as she lightly taps Nobu's head. "Quit playing around," she says, her calm tone belying the seriousness in her eyes.
"Ow!" Nobu straightens up, rubbing the spot where Satomi had hit him. "Ow," he cries again, grinning. "Okay, okay, I get it. I'll stop being dramatic."
As the door creaks open, Kaeya steps into the room, his piercing blue eye scanning the group of newbies gathered around Ash's bed. "Mr. Shinso," he says, his voice laced with authority as he gestures inside the room. "All of them are here, in Ash's room."
Nobu's face lights up with recognition as he spots his master. "Oh, Old Man!" he exclaims, waving warmly at the older hero. "Why are you here?"
Kaeya's expression turns frosty at the nickname, and he scowls. "I beg your pardon?" he says sharply.
Nobu's smile falters, and he quickly corrected himself. "H-Hello, Mr. Kaeya," he stammers, his hands raised protectively as he braces for the older hero's wrath. "H-How may I aid you?"
"Umm... Reina," Katsu leans in close to Reina, his voice low and conspiratorial. "So basically, the plot of our story is for Nobu to get on others' nerves, right?" he whispers.
Reina nods in agreement, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I know, right?" he replies, his voice equally hushed. "It's like he's got some sort of talent for it."
"Anyway..." Shinso chuckles softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Both of you did well in the match," he says, his voice warm and congratulatory. "Congratulations Nobu! You're the first sacred soldier to master All for One and Overpower in no time!"
Nobu rolls his eyes, his expression unimpressed. "Yeah, whatever," he mutters under his breath. "You didn't come here just to say that, did you?" Adds Nobu, his tone suspicious.
At that moment, Kaeya clears his throat loudly, his eyes narrowed in irritation. "Ahem!" he says, his tone stern as Nobu immediately straightens up, a sheepish expression on his face. "H-Hi Mr. Shinso," he says, his voice slightly nervous. "How may I help you?"
Shinso crosses his arms and leans forward, his expression piqued with interest. "When you were fighting Ash, I believe you used two techniques that we don't know about, right?" he asks, eager for answers.
Nobu nods in understanding, raising his index finger. "The first one's called Void Push," he explains, his tone confident. "I can harness an unseen force that emanates from within me, a force that is capable of pushing even those who possess greater physical strength than myself as long as their power level is weaker than mine, and without ever laying a finger on them. It's a power that is both mysterious and exhilarating if you ask me!"
Shinso nods in acknowledgment, but his eyes gleam with curiosity as he leans in further. "Actually, I'm more interested in the second part," he admits.
Nobu's expression turns grave as he lowers his hand, a sense of gravity and weightiness hanging in the air. "To be completely honest, I cannot claim to fully understand the nature of this power that I possess," he confesses solemnly. "During a time of training on All For One, I found myself rendered immobile, as usual. But in that moment, something within me stirred and this incredible force surged forth."
He motions towards the closed eye engraved on his bracer, a symbol of his mysterious power. "With the opening of this eye, my Chi was restored in a single instant, and a sensation of immense power coursed through my veins. But this was no ordinary power - it felt, unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Even as I speak, I am unable to fully grasp the true extent of what happened."
"Correct," Shinso nods in agreement. "it's not any type of magical energy. It's something that only you are capable of using," he confirms, a sense of awe and admiration in his voice.
The other heroes in the room can't help but gasp in amazement at this revelation. Nobu's unique power sets him apart from anyone else in the world, making him a truly remarkable individual.
"Man, I didn't know that I'm that cool," Nobu says, a wide grin spreading across his face. Despite his usual humble nature, the knowledge that he possesses a one-of-a-kind ability fills him with a sense of pride and excitement.
Reina, however, is still curious about the nature of Nobu's power. "So if it's not magic, then what is it?" he asks, his expression intent on gaining a deeper understanding.
"Nobu possesses the power of Kamaitachi!" Shinso declares, his eyes fixated on the bracer adorning Nobu's left hand.
"Kama... Itachi?" Nobu, visibly confused, questions, "Isn't it that sushi knife or something?"
Satomi scolds, delivering a swift hit to his head, causing him to wince in pain. "Cut it out," she chides, frustrated by his lack of knowledge.
"3000 years ago, Kamaitachi, the demon of corruption appeared," Explains Kaeya with a serious tone, his words hanging heavy in the air as the group of newbies listens in awe."Remember when we told you about the demon's war?" As he pauses, all of them nod in agreement while focusing on Kaeya's every word.
"The entire demon nation was against that one demon... Against Kamaitachi," Kaeya continues, and gasps of disbelief fill the room. "To be fully clear, we still don't have a clue about the reason behind that war, and how did Kamaitachi appear as well. We even heard that he wasn't born the same way as the rest of the demons... But what we're sure of is that Kamaitachi is something to be aware of. And, if Nobu can handle his power, it'll be a great support for our Kingdom."
Shinso interjects, turning to Nobu with urgency in his voice. "Nobu, you need to take grasp of what's within you!" he exclaims. "Your demonic power stood toe-to-toe against all the demons, even Warhammer himself! But you still need to be careful..."
Nobu nods, fully comprehending the gravity of the situation. He can feel the power of Kamaitachi coursing through his veins, and he knows that with great power comes great responsibility. The weight of the past and future bears down on him, and he takes a deep breath, ready to face whatever comes next.
"I get it..." says the boy, as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a chocolate bar. "I'm 100% sure that what you're saying is giving me a headache! Just trying to comprehend it is making me go crazy!"
Satomi lets out a small chuckle, amused by Nobu's quip, while Shinso shakes his head, exasperated but also amused.
Shinso's words hang heavy in the air as the group tries to make sense of Nobu's situation. "However... the fact that you're magicless is not because you possess Kamaitachi's power," he explains. "You're a demon host, not a demon. I mean, if you were a demon, you should have demonic energy after all."
Reina interrupts, her voice filled with concern. "But still... the fact that he doesn't have a magical resource for his demonic abilities is breathtaking as well."
The room falls silent as everyone contemplates the implications of Nobu's unique situation. Suddenly, Katsu's eyes widen in surprise as he connects the dots. "Wait wait... hold on a second!" he stammers, hands over his head as his fingers run through his hair. "Nobu isn't Kamaitachi, so the corruption powers aren't his element... does it mean..."
"Nobu has two elements?" Stammer the whole team in unison, finally figuring out the potential residing within their friend.
The group falls silent, stunned by the revelation that Nobu possesses not one, but two elements. They all turn their attention to the unfazed boy, who is still munching on his chocolate bar. When they stop talking, Nobu raises his head and looks innocently at them with his darkened blue eyes.
The room is filled with a tense silence, broken only by Nobu's sudden exclamation. "I have two elements?" he cries out in shock, dropping the chocolate bar and springing to his feet, "Ahhh, No! My chocolate!!"
Reina turns to her masters, his eyes narrowed in curiosity. "So what element does Nobu have?" he asks. "It seems like he's only been using demon power so far, but he hasn't used his own element yet, right?"
Shinso nods with closed eyes, acknowledging Reina's observation. "You're as sharp as ever, Reina. The truth is, we still don't know what Nobu's element is. But we have a plan to find out, and there's only one person who can help us."
Nobu's eyes widen in excitement as he hears Shinso's words. "Whoa, really? Who is it?" he asks eagerly.
Shinso smiles. "It's her majesty, Queen Ashide," he replies. "After the tournament is over, we'll be sending you and some others to the capital to meet with her."
Nobu can hardly contain his excitement at the prospect of meeting the queen and discovering his element. "That's amazing!" he exclaims. "So when I finally learn my element, I'll be able to use magic, right? Right?"
Shinso's voice takes on a more serious tone as he continues to explain to Nobu. "You don't understand, Nobu. You don't need magical energy because you have something far more superior," he says gravely. "You're the only one in the world who can keep up with any of us without it. They had to divide your demon powers because you were unstoppable. And now, they're making it hard for the other chosen one to gather their full potential, which is you. That's right, you need to collect other fragments to get your full demon power..."
Nobu's eyes widen in understanding as the weight of Shinso's words sink in. He had always felt like something was different about him, but he had never imagined that he could be so special. The realization fills him with a sense of awe and wonder.
Shinso continues, his voice full of conviction. "What you have is not only a gift Nobu. It can be considered a curse as well. And it's up to you to use it to its fullest potential. You have the power to change the world, Nobu. Don't ever forget that."
Nobu raises his left hand, his gaze focused intently on his Soul Edge. As he carefully examines the blade, a realization dawns on him. "I see," he mutters, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, as if a switch has been flipped, his eyes light up with joy and his irises change to a bright orange hue. "So I'm cool after all, right?" he exclaims, pointing to his chest with pride.
Satomi, who has been watching in disbelief, interjects with a note of caution. "I don't know if giving Nobu this kind of power is such a good idea," she says, holding her head in her hand. "He's already a handful as it is!"
The tension in the air is palpable as Magnus and Satomi head to their respective gates, the crowd waiting with bated breath for the signal to start the third match. The arena is filled with the sound of cheers and shouts, the excitement almost palpable.
Meanwhile, Kaeya and Shinso exit Ash's room, their faces grave as they consider what they have learned. The others remain inside, still worried about their friend's condition. Ash slowly opens his eyes, wincing slightly as he tries to move.
It's at that moment that Nobu notices the light reaction from his friend. In an instant, he switches to Ash's side, his eyes full of relief and joy. The others watch in amazement as Nobu takes Ash's hand, his own energy flowing into his friend's body. The two boys sit in silence for a moment, the only sound the gentle hum of magic.
As Ash touches Nobu's skin, he can feel the warmth and energy flowing between them, his eyes widening in shock and surprise. For a moment, he is lost in the sensation, the look of gratefulness on his friend's face overwhelming him.
But soon enough, Ash takes his gaze away, biting his trembling lower lip in guilt. He knows that he has been neglectful of his friend's well-being, too wrapped up in his own problems to notice what was happening right in front of him.
"N... Nobu..." he mutters, mustering up the courage to speak his mind. "I'm... I'm so..."
"That was amazing!" Nobu exclaims, interrupting Ash mid-sentence as his eyes shine with excitement and respect, "The way you fought, I can tell that you have the potential to become an incredibly strong sacred soldier!"
Ash gasps in surprise, not expecting such a reaction. "Eh?" he says, unsure.
"Your demon power is incredible," Continues Nobu while nodding vigorously, and gesturing animatedly. "You can even shape demonic energy at will. I gave it my all and still almost lost, but you didn't even use your full power!"
"Man... I still have a long way to go," Nobu admits, closing his eyes and lifting his head high. "But I won't lose to any of you. I'll keep fighting alongside you, even in The Night's Fury Realm!" His determination is palpable, and Ash can't help but feel inspired by his friend's words.
"Nobu..." replies Ash, still amazed by his friend's spirit, "I was...I was trying to kill you, you know. Aren't you mad at me or anything?"
Nobu strokes his chin thoughtfully, surprising Ash with his response. "Why should I be?" he says. "You were overcome by your emotions, and you didn't mean to do it."
"And, you didn't kill me anyway!" Continues Nobu, head tilted to the side, "Should we really consider overthinking something that didn't happen?"
Impressed by Nobu's forgiveness, Ash nods gratefully. "Thank you," he says.
Nobu's eyes gleam with excitement as he challenges Ash to a rematch. "When you're fully healed, let's go for it one more time," he says. "I want to see if I can beat you when you're in full control of your powers!"
As Ash clutches the blanket tightly, he feels overwhelmed by his emotions. How could Nobu still consider him a teammate, even after he had tried to kill him? The pureness of Nobu's soul leaves Ash feeling both humbled and ashamed.
Tears stream down Ash's face as he lowers his head. "People called you cursed," he whispers, his mind racing with thoughts. "They hated you because you're different, just like me. But unlike me, you don't fixate on the past. You're willing to move forward and keep winning. That's what sets us apart."
Ash raises his hand, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Nobu, you are an inspiration," he thinks, his hand trembling with emotion. "Your unwavering spirit, your determination to keep fighting no matter what... It fills me with hope. You make me want to be a better person, a better teammate."
At that moment, Ash realizes that he has much to learn from Nobu. He vows to never forget the lesson his friend has taught him and to strive towards the same level of selflessness and dedication that Nobu embodies.
As Nobu closes his eyes and a serene smile spreads across his face, Ash's gaze lingers on him with a newfound sense of awe. At that moment, he notices something remarkable - the striking resemblance between Nobu and Mina. As he allows the image of Mina to bloom in his mind, it becomes intertwined with that of Nobu, and Ash feels a stirring of emotion deep within him.
A soft chuckle escapes his lips as he realizes something that he hadn't before - that he hadn't actually lost when he fought Nobu. In fact, the battle had brought him a strange kind of victory - the discovery of a connection between two people who had seemed so different at first glance. As he continues to watch Nobu, Ash feels a sense of gratitude for the unexpected lessons that life can teach us, and for the moments of clarity that can arise when we least expect them.
A grin spreads across his face as he fully raises his hand, asking Nobu for a handshake. "Yeah! Of course!" he says excitedly. "Let's clash one more time, and this time I'll make sure to win!"
Nobu grins back, accepting the challenge along with the handshake. "I'm glad to see you try!" he says, and Ash feels a warmth spreading through his chest. It's a feeling he hasn't experienced in a long time - the feeling of acceptance and support from a true friend. Nobu's unwavering faith in him, even after what he had done, fills Ash with a sense of hope and joy.
Tears well up in Ash's eyes as he realizes that he is not alone. There are people who accept him for who he is, even at his worst. It's a realization that fills him with gratitude and a renewed sense of determination to keep moving forward, no matter what challenges he may face.
As the two friends stand there, hand in hand, Ash knows that he has found someone he can truly rely on. Together, they will face whatever the future holds, and emerge stronger for it.